To Cornelius Mitchell, it’s the immeasurables that separate a good player from a great one. After just one summer together, it was clear to Mitchell that Cameron Lomax possessed those immeasurables.
“You can’t measure somebody’s will and how relentless they are and their ability to overcome failure. Kids like Cameron, he thrives in those areas,” said Mitchell, who was the head coach of Lomax’s Drive Nation EYBL team this summer. “He’s not afraid to fail. He’s not afraid of challenges. He’s OK being uncomfortable.”
UH Basketball will quickly force new players out of their comfort zone. From running and lifting before the sunrise throughout the dog days of summer to competing in the infamous “Bubble Drill” in practice, being pushed to new levels where everything is earned is exactly what Lomax is looking for in a college program.
The Dallas-area point guard has built a strong relationship with the UH coaching staff, particularly with Mike Ekanem. Before Ekanem joined the UH staff as an assistant coach in May, he served as Lomax’s primary recruiter at Oklahoma State. Though Ekanem changed jobs, his relationship with Lomax has remained strong. Lomax said he talks to Ekanem nearly every other day.
Lomax is especially appreciative of the way the UH coaching staff has taken the time to do their due diligence in evaluating him throughout the recruiting process.
“Coach Sampson and the whole coaching staff, I really appreciate what (UH) did as far as the offering me part,” Lomax said. “A lot of people just offer right away, but they actually took their time and watched me (and) scouted me. He built a good relationship with me and my mom, and that meant a lot.”
Describing himself as a “pest” on defense, the six-foot Lomax prides himself on his defensive abilities and can see how he naturally would fit into UH’s hard-nosed defensive philosophy.
Mitchell, who called Lomax a “natural defender,” said it didn’t take long into coaching Lomax before the point guard’s attention to detail and effort on the defensive end of the floor stood out to him.
“He’s not a big kid, but he plays way taller and way bigger than he really is. He is a really tough, tough, tough defender (and) just tough all-around player,” Mitchell said. “He’s quick, he’s athletic and he’s tough. You combine all those things into a willing defender, and you get Cameron Lomax.”
Lomax has paid close attention to the ways Kelvin Sampson consistently gets the best out of his players. The way UH helped transform Jamal Shead from an underrecruited kid to an All-American point guard who is now in the NBA specifically stood out to Lomax.
“Just being a point guard, you want to go somewhere where other point guards have been successful, and Houston is definitely one of those,” Lomax said.
Lomax models his offensive game after current collegiate guards PJ Haggerty (Kansas State) and Josh Hubbard (Mississippi State), who are smaller in stature themselves but consistently get to their spots and score efficiently.
Lomax also studies a lot of Luka Doncic film, specifically focusing on the ways the Los Angeles Lakers superstar makes the game easier for his teammates. Lomax prides himself on his ability to run the pick and roll, believing that part of his game will translate well at the Division I level.
As he searches for a new place to call home, his top priorities are finding a program that offers a family atmosphere and provides him with the opportunity to compete at the highest level. UH checks both of those boxes.
“I’m leaving my family, going to play basketball, and I just want to go somewhere where I feel like I’m going to another family,” Lomax said.
Lomax has already visited Xavier and has four more official visits scheduled over the next month, beginning with UH on September 12.
Lomax has been a natural fit at every stop he’s made. After being the new guy on his AAU team and transferring from Frisco Heritage to play his senior season at Oak Cliff Faith Family Academy, Mitchell believes Lomax will have no problems organically fitting into whatever school he chooses to play for.
“He has an incredible niche for just finding his place and then being sacrificial enough to fit into that role and be an absolute beast at doing it,” Mitchell said.
